Fourth of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/fourth-of-july
en-usTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:59:21 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:59:21 -0500The latest news on Fourth of July from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-on-july-fourth-holiday-obama-urges-immigration-overhaul-2014-04OBAMA: 'Our Immigration System Is Broken'http://www.businessinsider.com/r-on-july-fourth-holiday-obama-urges-immigration-overhaul-2014-04
Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:47:00 -0400Steve Holland
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53b7121769beddd827ecd15a-480-/barack-obama-481.jpg" border="0" alt="Barack Obama" width="480" />President Barack Obama told Americans on the Independence Day holiday on Friday that welcoming immigrants to the United States is "central to our way of life" as he made an impassioned argument for a new immigration policy.</span></p>
<p>"We have to fix our immigration system, which is broken, and pass common-sense immigration reform," Obama said at a White House ceremony for 25 foreign-born men and women who gained American citizenship for their service in the U.S. military.</p>
<p>Obama is struggling on two fronts in the immigration debate.</p>
<p>His drive for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration overhaul this year collapsed when House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Washington, told him the House would not hold a vote.</p>
<p>Along the southern U.S. border in Texas, Obama's administration is attempting to get a handle on the tens of thousands of children from Central America who have flooded into the country, straining resources and leading to Republican criticism that Obama is not doing enough to stop the surge.</p>
<p>The twin challenges have put Obama in a difficult position. While he has vowed to take executive actions on his own to make it easier for undocumented people to remain in the United States, he says most of the recent migrants will be sent home.</p>
<p>This has upset immigration advocacy groups who support him and see the new migrants as victims of gang violence in their home countries.</p>
<p>Obama's remarks in the White House East Room underscored his message that the United States would be a weaker nation without immigrants.</p>
<p>"The basic idea of welcoming immigrants to our shores is central to our way of life," Obama said. "It's in our DNA. ... We shouldn't be making it harder for the best and brightest to come here."</p>
<p>Obama is scheduled to visit Texas next week to participate in events to raise money for Democratic candidates in the November congressional elections. But he will resist Republican pressure to visit the border, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Friday.</p>
<p>At the White House ceremony, 25 people were sworn in as citizens. They came from 15 countries ranging from Australia to Guatemala to the Philippines to Ukraine.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler)</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-on-july-fourth-holiday-obama-urges-immigration-overhaul-2014-04#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-the-american-flag-2014-7The Alternate Versions Of The US Flag That Were Forgotten By Historyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-the-american-flag-2014-7
Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:33:00 -0400Christina Sterbenz
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/53b7080b6da8114a02975e62-1200-750/screen shot 2014-07-04 at 3.53.58 pm.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2014 07 04 at 3.53.58 PM"></p><p>The first officially recognized version of the American flag, from 1776, &nbsp;had 13 stars — in a circle.<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>Although even before the U.S. became an autonomous nation, Americans had a banner to display their patriotism.</p>
<p>Since then, the stars representing the increasing number of states on the flag have taken on different designs, like a flower, or wagon wheel.</p>
<p>Compiled by the team at <a href="http://popchartlab.com/products/american-flags">Pop Chart Labs</a>, each version tell its own story.<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p><h3>The Sons of Liberty, a secret society of dissidents, adopted this flag in 1767. The nine uneven stripes represent the "loyal nine" colonies that protested the Stamp Act of Congress of 1765.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/53b7006b6da8115b5c975e68-400-300/the-sons-of-liberty-a-secret-society-of-dissidents-adopted-this-flag-in-1767-the-nine-uneven-stripes-represent-the-loyal-nine-colonies-that-protested-the-stamp-act-of-congress-of-1765.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Source: <a href="http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-librt.html#sons">CRW Flags</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>John Hulbert created this version in 1775. His company, the Third Regiment of New York, reportedly carried it. Its six-pointed stars are arranged in the cross of St. Andrew.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53b707d56da8114706975e62-400-300/john-hulbert-created-this-version-in-1775-his-company-the-third-regiment-of-new-york-reportedly-carried-it-its-six-pointed-stars-are-arranged-in-the-cross-of-st-andrew.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1408&amp;dat=19401226&amp;id=GERlAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=kJMNAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=1135,1210971">Mouse River Farmers Press, 1960</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Some historians consider this the oldest flag meant to represent the entire country as well as the oldest to use 13 red and white stripes purposefully. The Minutemen reportedly carried it for the Battles on Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53b708086bb3f781724d58e8-400-300/some-historians-consider-this-the-oldest-flag-meant-to-represent-the-entire-country-as-well-as-the-oldest-to-use-13-red-and-white-stripes-purposefully-the-minutemen-reportedly-carried-it-for-the-battles-on-lexington-and-concord-on-april-19-1775.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Source: <a href="http://www.flagheritagefoundation.org/the-foundations-collections/the-forster-flag/">Flag Heritage Foundation</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-the-american-flag-2014-7#the-continental-colors-flag-also-known-as-the-grand-union-flag-is-considered-the-first-flag-of-the-autonomous-colonies-as-the-flag-of-the-revolution-it-bears-13-stripes-and-the-red-cross-of-st-george-of-england-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-we-use-fireworks-on-the-fourth-of-july-2014-7The History Behind Why We Use Fireworks On The Fourth Of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-we-use-fireworks-on-the-fourth-of-july-2014-7
Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:05:14 -0400J. TRAVIS SMITH
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53b6eb7269bedd1b06ecd15c-480-/washington-dc-fireworks-2012-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Washington DC Fireworks 2012" width="480" /></p><p>Bamboo is extremely strong and grows in a series of hollow segments. Drop one of these hollow segments into a fire, and the air inside will heat and expand until the bamboo explodes with a BANG. This phenomenon was first discovered, much to the delight of teenagers, around 200 BC in China, and &ldquo;b&agrave;ozh&uacute;&rdquo;, Chinese for firecracker &mdash; from &ldquo;b&agrave;ozha&rdquo; meaning explode and &ldquo;zhu&rdquo; meaning bamboo &mdash; was born.</p>
<p>For the next thousand years, exploding bamboo shoots were used to ward off evil spirits and, most likely, terrorize the elderly. Then around the 9th century AD, an alchemist, always on the search for immortality, mixed sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpeter) and accidentally discovered gunpowder. Put a little gunpowder in a bamboo shoot and you have the world&rsquo;s first firework. Put a lot and you have a bomb. Put it in a strong, open-ended tube and you have a cannon. China did just this when the Mongols invaded their country in the 13th century.</p>
<p>Word got out, via Mongolian wars, traveling missionaries and teenagers studying abroad on their parents dime, and the use of gunpowder started to spread through the Middle East into Europe. As you&rsquo;d imagine, every warring nation put their top people on turning out more and better gunpowder in an effort to gain a military edge; as a result, fireworks started to become bigger and better. During this time it became custom that after you blew your enemies to bits with gunpowder in war, you celebrated the victory by blowing up the night sky with gunpowder, in a series of bright, orange flashes and loud sounds.</p>
<p>Still extremely popular in China, the prevalence of fireworks &mdash; now increasingly more intricate, aerial and planned &mdash; in Europe grew along with an interest in oriental culture and design (just look at the gaudy interior decorations of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton Beach as an example, which began construction in 1787 at the command of Prince George of Wales). The controlled explosions were increasingly used for religious ceremonies and public celebrations, along with military commemorations. Their use became somewhat of an arms race among royalty, who saw the explosive displays as synonymous with wealth, power and boosting morale.</p>
<p>However, this was still around the 17th and 18th century, so safety wasn&rsquo;t priority number one. The dangerous job of firing off the firework displays was left to &ldquo;green men&rdquo; &mdash; a term taken from the 1635 book&nbsp;The Second Booke, a sort of how-to for all thing pyrotechnics &mdash; who wore leaves on their heads and soot on their skin in order to protect themselves from the sparks and fires and hide themselves from the crowd as they ran around lighting off an assortment of primitive fireworks.</p>
<p>Around this time Europeans were busy colonizing what would become the United States of America. Don&rsquo;t think they left gunpowder and firework displays on the other side of the pond; colonists were such fans of lighting the stuff off that a ban was placed on the more mischievous uses of pyrotechnics in Rhode Island in 1731, which was also the first of the original colonies to declare independence from British rule &mdash; bringing us at last to July 4, 1776: the date appearing in the top right corner of the Declaration of Independence.</p>
<p><strong>So why fireworks for the fourth?</strong> A day after Congress voted on becoming legally separated from British rule, on July 2, John Adams sent a letter to his wife Abigail about its significance: &ldquo;The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America&hellip; It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.&rdquo; He was wrong about the day, but he was right about the &ldquo;illuminations&rdquo;. Sure enough, the next year, in Philadelphia, Congress authorized a fireworks display for the first commemoration of July 4, leading the way for fireworks to come to symbolize the day.</p>
<p>And so began the long history of fireworks being tacked onto most major American political events, starting with George Washington&rsquo;s inauguration in 1789. Soon after, with Europe in the wake of the Renaissance Era, fireworks started to resemble their current incarnations: they became colored. Pyrotechnic schools began stressing the importance of more elaborate and artistic firework displays, and in the 8130s Italians, seeking to push the limits of gunpowder, started adding metal salts to the mixture, producing vibrant hues in their exhibitions (for your kitchen laboratory: strontium gives off red coloring, barium gives green, copper for blue and sodium flashes bright yellow).</p>
<p>When the Declaration was approved, there were about 2.5 million people living in the newly declared nation. Today there are about 314 million. As our population has grown, so too has our consumption of fireworks; we import about $250 million worth of fireworks each year and produce another $250 million worth. And there you have it. 2,200 years &mdash; from exploding bamboo shoots to handheld roman candles &mdash; worth of human fascination with shit that goes boom.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-we-use-fireworks-on-the-fourth-of-july-2014-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/one-incredibly-british-thing-about-the-star-spangled-banner-2014-7There Is One Incredibly British Thing About 'The Star-Spangled Banner'http://www.businessinsider.com/one-incredibly-british-thing-about-the-star-spangled-banner-2014-7
Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:50:00 -0400Matt Johnston
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53b6a19eeab8eaeb177b5f59-1200-800/shutterstock_86188579.jpg" border="0" alt="British and American Flag Together" /></p><p>As American cultural heritage goes, there may be nothing more American than our flag and national anthem. And on the Fourth of July, we're acutely aware of that.</p>
<p>But if you look back at the history of Francis Scott Key's now legendary tune, the actual melody has very un-American roots.</p>
<p>Francis Scott Key wrote the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry" in 1814, while watching a terrifying battle. It was the Battle of Fort McHenry in 1812. A week earlier, the British had ransacked Washington, D.C. &mdash; burning the Capitol and President's house to the ground.</p>
<p>It was a terrible sight, and as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/">the Smithsonian tells us</a>, Key later said&nbsp;"It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone." But as the smoke cleared (indeed the "dawn's early light") it was the American flag that flew above the wreckage, and not the Union Jack.</p>
<p>Key was watching about eight miles away on a ship, and wrote his poem as he witnessed the bombardment.</p>
<p>The poem became the now legendary "Star-Spangled Banner" and eventually began its reign as our national anthem. But it needed a melody. Interestingly enough, a very British tune ended up acting as the inspiration for the song we all know so well. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/07/star-spangled-banner-myths-debunked/">Some experts</a>&nbsp;think&nbsp;that because the rhyme scheme is so similar, Key had this in mind when he wrote the poem.</p>
<p>It's called&nbsp;"The Anacreontic Song." It was written by a man named John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society. The society was a men's social club in London, and the tune <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/07/star-spangled-banner-myths-debunked/">was apparently</a> sung at the beginning of their meetings.</p>
<p><span>Here's a YouTube clip of&nbsp;<span>"The Anacreontic Song," so you can see the similarities for yourself:</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/ydAIdVKv84g?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/ydAIdVKv84g?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" /></object></p>
<p><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/charts-to-make-you-proud-to-be-an-american-2014-7" >27 Charts That Will Have You Shouting 'America Is Number 1!'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/one-incredibly-british-thing-about-the-star-spangled-banner-2014-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-patriotic-cities-in-the-us-2014-7The 25 Most Patriotic Cities In The UShttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-patriotic-cities-in-the-us-2014-7
Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:51:00 -0400Melissa Stanger, Melia Robinson and Andy Kiersz
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53b41d476bb3f70c1c8c2a5a-480-/barnstable-ma-fourth-of-july-parade.jpg" border="0" alt="Barnstable, MA fourth of July parade" width="480" /></p><p>There are some people who are proud to be American, and then there are entire cities that really b<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ust out the red, white, and blue like it's nobody's business.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">With the Fourth of July around the corner, we found the most patriotic cities in the U.S. of A.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">We created a patriotism score for cities around the U.S. by looking at three categories:&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">the percentage of people who are veterans, according to the </span><a href="https://www.census.gov/acs/www/">2012 American Community Survey</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">; the percentage of residents 18 and over who voted in the 2012 presidential election; and the ranking of the best cities for Fourth of July celebrations&nbsp;</span><a href="http://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-july-4th/4651/">from Wallet Hub</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. We m</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ade a weighted average of the three scores, with 50% going to veterans, 30% going to voting turnout, and 20% from the Fourth of July celebrations.</span></p><h3>25. Medford, OR</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53b587c169bedd270929f2b2-400-300/25-medford-or.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Medford's annual "<a href="http://redwhiteandboom.info/">Red White and Boom</a>" celebration goes late into the night, with performances by notable country music stars and the largest fireworks display in Oregon. Its Hawthorne Park is also home to a <a href="http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8T1X_Statue_of_Liberty_Replica_Medford_OR">seven-foot-tall replica of Lady Liberty</a>.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>24. Sumter, SC</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/53b2d8ce6bb3f7cf61603d6d-400-300/24-sumter-sc.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Sumter is "a very pro-military, patriotic community," Col. Robert G. Young, Third Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Relocation, <a href="http://livability.com/sumter/sc/business/third-army-sumter-sc">told Livability.com</a>. The Third Army, one of the military's most renowned fighting force, which was once based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, relocated to Shaw Air Force Base inc Sumter back in 2012.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>23. Spokane, WA</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53b2dd496bb3f7d368603d7a-400-300/23-spokane-wa.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>On the Fourth of July, Spokane&nbsp;<a href="http://www.visitspokane.com/includes/events/Patriotic-concert-and-Patriotic-Monuments-Memorials/11087/660/">offers a two-hour bus tour</a> of all of the patriotic memorials and monuments in "the Lilac City." Liberty Lake, in the nearby suburb of Liberty Lake, is one of the area's best place to view the fireworks once the sun goes down.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-patriotic-cities-in-the-us-2014-7#22-duluth-mn-wi-metro-area-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/period-in-declaration-of-independence-2014-7An Extra Period In The Declaration Of Independence Might Change Our Understanding Of Government http://www.businessinsider.com/period-in-declaration-of-independence-2014-7
Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:15:00 -0400Christina Sterbenz
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/53b56b2769bedde56729f2b2-800-/doi%20skitch.jpeg" border="0" alt="Declaration of Independence Skitch" width="800" />The Declaration Of Independence made the United States an autonomous country 238 years ago this Fourth of July.</span></p>
<p>But the document's official transcript, produced by the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/research/">National Archives</a>, might contain a significant error &mdash; an extra period right in the middle of one of the most significant sentences, The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/us/politics/a-period-is-questioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;smid=tw-thecaucus&amp;_r=1">New York Times</a> reports.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A quick Google search for the text will show that many websites and organizations follow the National Archives' lead. Here's the full sentence, with an added period highlighted in red:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness<span style="color: #ff0000;">.</span> &mdash; That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ...."</p>
<p>That period doesn't appear on the faded original parchment, <a href="http://www.ias.edu/people/faculty-and-emeriti/allen">Danielle Allen</a>, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, contends. And it changes the meaning of the sentence, which effectively alters Americans' interpretation of government's role in protecting their individual rights.</p>
<p>"The logic of the sentence moves from the value of individual rights to the importance of government as a tool for protecting those rights," Allen told the Times. "You lose that connection when the period gets added."</p>
<p>Americans tend to interpret the message in its current form: that government is subordinate to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Without the period, the importance of government could serve as part of a larger argument, instead of a separate thought.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the original document has faded to near illegibility. But Allen points out that many early transcripts, some from 1776, exclude the period. Take Thomas Jefferson's so-called <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/rough.htm">original rough draft</a>, held in the Library of Congress &mdash; no period, according to the Times.</p>
<p>But that argument has its dissenters, especially those who feel the punctuation matters little to the meaning. Allen disagrees.</p>
<p>"We are having a national conversation about the value of our government, and it goes get connected to our founding documents," Allen told the Times. "We should get right what's in them."</p>
<p>This isn't the first time a historical text's punctuation made the national stage. Debate over a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-comma-in-the-second-amendment-2013-8">comma in the Second Amendment</a>&nbsp;traveled all the way to the Supreme Court in 2008. Then, lawyers argued its interpretation changed the meaning of our right to bear arms.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/us/politics/a-period-is-questioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;smid=tw-thecaucus&amp;_r=1"><strong>Read the full article from The New York Times here &raquo;</strong></a></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-comma-in-the-second-amendment-2013-8" >How A Comma Gave Americans The Right To Own Guns</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/period-in-declaration-of-independence-2014-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/children-of-former-us-presidents-2014-6FIRST KIDS: Where Are They Now?http://www.businessinsider.com/children-of-former-us-presidents-2014-6
Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:38:00 -0400Melia Robinson and Melissa Stanger
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53a9ba1fecad048f6af86495-480-/john-f-kennedy-jfk-caroline-kennedy-first-kid-daughter-president.jpg" border="0" alt="john f kennedy jfk caroline kennedy first kid daughter president" width="480" style="float: right;" /></p><p>The first kids of U.S. presidents dictate fashion trends, jet set around the world meeting dignitaries, and sometimes host senior prom in the White House East Room.</p>
<p>You know, normal kid stuff.</p>
<p>But when their parent's term is up and the first family departs 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the spotlight typically turns away from them.</p>
<p>To celebrate the Fourth of July &mdash; which happens to be Malia Obama's birthday &mdash; we checked out what the first children are up to these days.</p><h3>Caroline Kennedy serves as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53a8509d69bedddd7f9abc73-400-300/caroline-kennedy-serves-as-the-us-ambassador-to-japan.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Daughter of&nbsp;<span data-sheets-value="[null,2,&quot;John and Jackie Kennedy&quot;]" data-sheets-userformat="[null,null,513,[null,0],null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,0]">John and Jackie Kennedy</span></strong></p>
<p>Last fall, Caroline Kennedy landed a role perfectly suited to her lifetime of training in diplomacy &mdash; as the U.S. ambassador to Japan. But she <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/04/caroline-kennedy-on-life-as-ambassador-palace-runs-twitter-controversy/" target="_blank">stirred a Twitter controversy</a> when she publicly condemned the annual dolphin hunt, a Japanese tradition.</p>
<p>The former attorney, 56, also serves as president of the JFK Presidential Library and has written <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caroline-Kennedy/e/B000APIZ2K" target="_blank">nine New York Times best-selling books</a> on constitutional law, American history, and poetry.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Lynda Bird Johnson Robb advocates for equal rights for women and minorities.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/53a85a4eeab8eac87044b3c2-400-300/lynda-bird-johnson-robb-advocates-for-equal-rights-for-women-and-minorities.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Daughter of&nbsp;<span data-sheets-value="[null,2,&quot;Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson&quot;]" data-sheets-userformat="[null,null,513,[null,0],null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,0]">Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson</span></strong></p>
<p>At age 70, former first lady of Virginia Lynda Bird Johnson Robb is the oldest living child of a U.S. president. In the 1970s, she <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20073734,00.html" target="_blank">chaired the President's Advisory Committee for Women</a>&nbsp;to help carry out former President Jimmy Carter's mandate to promote gender equality.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Robb, whose father signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/28/caroline-kennedy-march-on-washington_n_3831481.html" target="_blank">gave a speech</a> at the 50th anniversary ceremony of the March on Washington last year.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Luci Baines Johnson chairs the private holding company her mother founded 70 years ago.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53a85cf269bedd3f2f9abc7a-400-300/luci-baines-johnson-chairs-the-private-holding-company-her-mother-founded-70-years-ago.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Daughter of&nbsp;<span data-sheets-value="[null,2,&quot;Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson&quot;]" data-sheets-userformat="[null,null,513,[null,0],null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,0]">Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson</span></strong></p>
<p>Like mother like daughter, Luci Baines Johnson took the helm of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lbjadvisors.com/" target="_blank">LBJ Asset Management Partners</a> in the late '80s and completely turned the business around in the midst of economic crisis.</p>
<p>Johnson, 66, and older sister Lynda Bird <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/08/lyndon-johnson-gay-marriage_n_5112588.html" target="_blank">gave an interview to Katie Couric</a> recently, suggesting that their late father would have supported same-sex marriage, as they do.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/children-of-former-us-presidents-2014-6#tricia-nixon-cox-lives-a-quiet-life-with-her-family-in-manhattan-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/san-diego-sets-off-all-its-fireworks-at-once-2013-7FLASHBACK: San Diego Accidentally Set Off All Its Fourth Of July Fireworks At Oncehttp://www.businessinsider.com/san-diego-sets-off-all-its-fireworks-at-once-2013-7
Fri, 05 Jul 2013 15:21:00 -0400Dashiell Bennett, The Atlantic Wire
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51d71a42eab8ea4f56000000-800-/fireoriginal.jpg" border="0" alt="San Diego fireworks accident" width="800" /></p><p>Folks in San Diego witnessed what was either the worst Fourth of July fireworks celebration &mdash; or the absolute best &mdash; when a technical malfunction&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Fireworks-Shot-Off-Early-in-Bay-161396045.html">caused all of their pyrotechnics to go off at the same time</a>&nbsp;in 2012. <br /><br />The annual Big Bay Boom extravaganza began and ended in&nbsp;spectacular&nbsp;fashion when an&nbsp;inadvertent&nbsp;signal set off the explosions about five minutes early and caused the&nbsp;entire 18 minute show to take place&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigbayboom.com/">in about 15 seconds</a>. <br /><br />Confused spectators waited around for what they thought was going to be the rest of the show, but were sent home and told the show (that was supposed to be&nbsp;choreographed&nbsp;to music) was canceled.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Some fans may been been disappointed, but at least the rest of us got some cool pictures and video out of it. <br /><br />Here's two of the best. First a photo (above),&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BENBALLER/status/220742399494856704"> posted on Instagram</a>&nbsp;by user&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/p/Mr72QcJMrR/">Ben Baller</a>&nbsp;(and "liked" by about 10,000 people)&nbsp;then one of several videos of the show posted on YouTube.</p>
<p><iframe width="800" height="550" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lrPCEubDZ9A"></iframe><br /><br /><em>Click <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/follow-the-atlantic/">here</a> to follow The Atlantic Wire.</em><br /><br /><strong>More From The Atlantic Wire:</strong><br /><a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/07/fireworks-mishaps/66861/">The Worst Of Last Night's Fireworks Disasters</a><br /><a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/07/pope-saints-john-paul-ii/66862/">Two Popes Are About To Become Saints</a><br /><a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/07/cnn-grounds-nancy-grace/66872/">CNN Grounds Nancy Grace</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/san-diego-sets-off-all-its-fireworks-at-once-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/applying-for-jobs-on-the-4th-of-july-2013-7Don't Apply For A Job On The 4th Of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/applying-for-jobs-on-the-4th-of-july-2013-7
Thu, 04 Jul 2013 11:18:00 -0400Laurie Ruettimann
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51d35c956bb3f7856800000a-742-556/tired-dog-american-flag-2.png" border="0" alt="tired dog american flag" />If you live in America, do not apply for jobs on the 4th of July.</span></p>
<p>This holiday is a strange one. Kids are home from school for summer break. The weather is hot, muggy and weird. People are fatigued. Inboxes are jammed. Most corporate professionals just want to get outta dodge.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Your&nbsp;<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn" class="zem_slink" rel="homepage">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;request will be missed.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Your email meeting request will be overlooked.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Your application in the ATS won&rsquo;t be forwarded until Monday at the very earliest &mdash; and it will be lumped in with other resumes and applications that came through during the holiday break.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>I know times are tough, but you won&rsquo;t be noticed if you apply for a job on&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29" target="_blank" title="Independence Day (United States)" class="zem_slink" rel="wikipedia">July 4th</a>. If you are noticed, people will wonder why you&rsquo;re not spending time with your family.</p>
<p>My advice? Go play with your kids or go volunteer at a homeless shelter in your town. Hit the beach. Visit the library and read a book. Do something that is free.</p>
<p>But wait until Monday, July 8th to restart your search.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/applying-for-jobs-on-the-4th-of-july-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fourth-of-julyin-9-charts-2013-7The Fourth Of July In 9 Chartshttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-fourth-of-julyin-9-charts-2013-7
Thu, 04 Jul 2013 09:37:09 -0400Derek Thompson
<p>Two hundred and seven years ago today, America was born. Kind of. More like we announced an intention to be born.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In that year, there were just 2.5 million people living in what would, in a few years, become the United States of America, according to current&nbsp;<a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff14.html">Census</a>estimates. Today, the metropolitan areas of both New York City and Los Angeles have larger populations. Essentially, America was the size of modern Chicago.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d57896ecad043562000018-464-471/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 4.16.52 pm.png" border="0" alt="us 1776 population vs chicago today" /></p>
<p><span>Although the country has grown in both space and population, not everybody knows exactly what we're meant to be celebrating on the Fourth of July.&nbsp; Asked in what year America claimed independence, less than a third of Millennials correctly guessed 1776, according to a&nbsp;</span><a href="http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/misc/usapolls/US110615/July%204th/Complete%20July%201,%202011%20USA%20Marist%20Poll%20Release%20and%20Tables.pdf">2011 Marist Poll</a><span>&nbsp;survey.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d578b86bb3f7c974000022-444-320/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 4.56.32 pm.png" border="0" alt="independence year poll" /></span></p>
<p><span><span>But enough celebrating ignorance and more celebrating America. In 2012, Americans spent nearly $1 billion on about 207 million pounds of display and consumer fireworks. That's about 60 percent more than we spent in 2000. Interestingly, the sheer number of pounds of fireworks we bought peaked in 2005.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d578d16bb3f7c87400000e-570-562/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 10.37.56 pm-thumb-570x562-126398.png" border="0" alt="fireworks chart" /></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The U.S. imports about&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff14.html">a quarter of a billion dollars</a><span>&nbsp;worth of fireworks with the vast, vast majority coming from China (appropriately enough, since the first fireworks in recorded history were from&nbsp;</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireworks">7th century China</a><span>).</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51d578f3eab8ea3b0e000001-324-374/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 7.25.25 pm.png" border="0" alt="china fireworks" /></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>The American Pyrotechnics Association (actual URL:</span><a href="http://www.americanpyro.com/industry-facts-figures">http://www.americanpyro.com</a><span>) claims that the rate of firework injuries has declined by about 80 percent since 1980. But there are still 4 recorded injuries for every 100,000 pounds of fireworks today. Here's how those injuries tend to break down (graph via&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/03/heres-how-youll-injure-yourself-with-fireworks-in-one-chart/?tid=pm_business_pop">Wonkblog</a><span>).</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/51d5790eeab8ea4f09000006-480-567/fireworks-graph.png" border="0" alt="fireworks graph" /></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>For a safer way to celebrate, there are always flags. The Flag Manufacturers Association of America claims its members sell more than $300 million in "fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems" each year. We still import nearly $4 million of American flags every year, six-times more than we export.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d5792becad047d6600000d-505-487/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 5.10.29 pm.png" border="0" alt="flag imports" /></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Famously, we get the vast, vast majority of our flag imports from China.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d579446bb3f79d7d000001-389-339/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 5.22.23 pm.png" border="0" alt="flag imports" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>Fireworks and flags are fine, but you can't eat them (safely). Fortunately for our stomachs, the final hallmarks of the holiday are hot dogs and burgers. So where do our American-bred pigs, hogs, and cattle come from? The folks at the Census and the USDA&nbsp;<a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff14.html">have data</a>&nbsp;on that $90 billion mega-meat business, too.</p>
<p>If the meat of choice on your grill is beef hot dogs, steaks or burgers, there's a decent chance your food came from Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas, which combined account for about a third of annual meat production from cattle and calves in the U.S. (The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meatami.com/ht/d/sp/i/47465/pid/47465">American Meat Institute</a>&nbsp;has slightly different figures.)</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51d5795e69bedd741000000a-410-444/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 7.43.25 pm.png" border="0" alt="meat" /></p>
<p><span>The hog and pig industry is more centralized. There are 66 million hogs and pigs in the U.S. today. About a third of them, producing 10 billion pounds of meat, are in Iowa.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d5798969bedd6f15000005-428-418/screen shot 2013-07-03 at 7.36.00 pm.png" border="0" alt="hogs chart" /></span></p>
<p>More from <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/">The Atlantic</a>:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/-i-nashville-i-in-paris-the-quintessential-american-film-as-seen-abroad/277443/"><span><em>Nashville</em> in Paris: The Quintessential American Film as Seen Abroad<br /></span></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/the-worlds-biggest-bands-are-british-and-its-biggest-solo-artists-are-american/277472/">Soloists are American, Bands are British</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/07/as-america-celebrates-its-creation-our-common-ground-is-disappearing/277526/">America's Common Ground is Disappearing</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fourth-of-julyin-9-charts-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-july-4th-fireworks-in-america-2013-7Here's Where To Find The Biggest And Best July 4th Fireworks Showshttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-july-4th-fireworks-in-america-2013-7
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 15:22:00 -0400Liz O'Connor
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51d33843eab8eabc6600000b-740-/boston-fireworks-2001.jpg" border="0" alt="Boston Fireworks 2001" width="740" style="float: right;" /></p><p></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Fireworks are the biggest and brightest of all Independence Day traditions, and each year people gather across the country to see the amazing pyrotechnics that commemorate the birth of our nation.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Fireworks have reportedly <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/lifecycles/2013/jul/1/fireworks-spark-american-traditions-each-fourth-ju/">been a part of July 4th celebrations since 1777,</a> and today they're a key part of almost any July 4th celebration.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>While s</span><span>hows vary in size and length around the country, some places go above and beyond to light up their skies.</span></span></p><h3>NEW YORK: Macy's "lights up the night" over the Hudson River with the nation's largest fireworks show every July 4th. This year's spectacle will involve over 40,000 shells and over 3 million people are expected to watch.</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d478966bb3f71b1f000000-400-300/new-york-macys-lights-up-the-night-over-the-hudson-river-with-the-nations-largest-fireworks-show-every-july-4th-this-years-spectacle-will-involve-over-40000-shells-and-over-3-million-people-are-expected-to-watch.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Learn more about the NYC fireworks show&nbsp;<a href="http://social.macys.com/fireworks/?cm_mmc=VanityUrl-_-fireworks-_-n-_-n#/about">here</a>.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>WASHINGTON, DC: This show is among the largest in the country, costing $255,000 and lasting over 17 minutes. The fireworks are set off from the Reflecting Pool, so those who can score a seat on the National Mall the best view, but the lights can be seen from miles away.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d4789f6bb3f71e1f000000-400-300/washington-dc-this-show-is-among-the-largest-in-the-country-costing-255000-and-lasting-over-17-minutes-the-fireworks-are-set-off-from-the-reflecting-pool-so-those-who-can-score-a-seat-on-the-national-mall-the-best-view-but-the-lights-can-be-seen-from-miles-away.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Learn more about the D.C. fireworks show <a href="http://www.nps.gov/foju/fireworks.htm">here</a>.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>BOSTON: The Boston display is one of the nation's most expensive, costing a record $2.5 million this year. The 20+ minute display is televised and is accompanied by the music of the famed Boston Pops.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51d33843eab8eabc6600000b-400-300/boston-the-boston-display-is-one-of-the-nations-most-expensive-costing-a-record-25-million-this-year-the-20-minute-display-is-televised-and-is-accompanied-by-the-music-of-the-famed-boston-pops.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Learn more about the Boston fireworks show <a href="http://www.july4th.org/">here</a>.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-july-4th-fireworks-in-america-2013-7#philadelphia-the-annual-philly-4th-of-july-jam-and-grand-finale-fireworks-show-takes-place-over-the-philadelphia-museum-of-art-and-features-a-star-studded-concert-each-year-this-year-john-mayer-ne-yo-and-demi-lovato-are-expected-to-perform-among-others-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-where-to-find-the-best-4th-of-july-deals-2013-7Here's Where To Find The Best 4th Of July Dealshttp://www.businessinsider.com/heres-where-to-find-the-best-4th-of-july-deals-2013-7
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:25:00 -0400Stacey Bumpus
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/50ef4df5ecad041b18000008-612-459/4thofjuly-1.jpg" border="0" alt="4thofjuly" /></p><p>Along with fireworks displays and great barbecue,&nbsp;<strong>4th of July 2013</strong>&nbsp;also promises a number of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/" title="Savings">savings</a>&nbsp;opportunities to take advantage of on the holiday as well as over the long weekend.<span id="more-256342"></span></p>
<p>Many retailers are offering&nbsp;<strong>July 4th freebies</strong>, deals and discounts no one should miss. So as you prepare to have visitors at your home, visit someone else&rsquo;s home or participate in the activities occurring in your city, don&rsquo;t miss out on the opportunity to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/saving-money/" title="Saving Money">save money</a>&nbsp;at the same time.</p>
<h2>July 4th Freebies, Discounts and Deals You Can&rsquo;t Miss</h2>
<p>There are so many fantastic freebies, deals and discounts to take advantage of this&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/swimsuits-sun-screen-beach-gear-worth-saving-splurging-on/" title="4th of July"><strong>July 4th 2013</strong></a>&nbsp;there it will be tough to list them all. But we&rsquo;re going to try our best to share with you all of the ways that you give your bank account a savings treat this Independence Day.</p>
<h3>4th of July Discounts from Banks</h3>
<p>Financial establishments are getting in on the&nbsp;<strong>4th of July deals</strong>&nbsp;with savings, checking and credit card offers.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Bank of America:</strong>&nbsp;Bank of America is offering up to $250 as a checking account promotion once customers sign up for the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/keep-change-save-go-which-saves-more/" title="Keep the Change">Keep the Change</a>&nbsp;Program. The program rounds up all Bank of America debit card purchases to the nearest dollar amount then transfers the difference to a Bank of America savings account.</li>
<li><strong>Chase Bank:</strong>&nbsp;Chase customers can receive a $200 coupon when opening a Chase Total Checking account and setting up a direct deposit. Offer only available to new Chase customers. Account requires $25 to open. Must use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/marketing/page/81513_225095_200_frdm&amp;ID=0000015610&amp;jp_aid_a=rg/10856/int/rg_10856_15610_int_32263/int" target="_blank">coupon</a>. Expires August 15, 2013.</li>
<li><strong>Citibank:</strong>&nbsp;Customers can earn $100 bonus cash back when they apply for a Citi Dividend Card and spend $500 in the first three months. This deal expires July 31, 2013.</li>
<li><strong>PNC Bank:</strong>&nbsp;By opening a Virtual Wallet Account and completing a qualifying direct deposit (along with one payment via PNC Online Bill Pay) PNC Bank customers can receive a $150 bank bonus. Direct deposit and bill payment must occur within 60 days of account opening. Total amount of all qualifying direct deposits credited to checking account must be at least $2,000. Expires July 27, 2013.</li>
<li><strong>Salem Five:</strong>&nbsp;Salem Five is offering a $100 Visa Reward Card to new customers who open a new Salem Five Star, Gold Star or eOne Checking account as a primary owner. The account holder must make two direct deposits over $250 each, six online bill pays over $25 each or 20 debit transactions over $5 each within 60 days of opening an account to receive the reward card.</li>
<li><strong>Sovereign Bank:</strong>&nbsp;Customers of Sovereign Bank can take advantage of up to a $125 bonus with the Sovereign Goal Savings Account. In order to be eligible for an Interest Bonus, customers must have a Sovereign Checking account open at the time the Interest Bonus is credited. Also, customers must have at least one recurring transfer per month into the Sovereign Goal Savings account from a Sovereign Checking account.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Food Chain and Retailer Independence Day Deals</h3>
<p>Retailers are making July 4th a blast with some amazing&nbsp;<strong>Independence Day deals</strong>, discounts and offers.</p>
<p><strong>Apparel, Accessories and Beauty</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Backcountry:</strong>&nbsp;Backcountry is running its Find Freedom at the 4th of July Sale with discounts of up to 40 percent off.</li>
<li><strong>Bare Necessities:</strong>&nbsp;One July 4th and beyond, you can enjoy Bare Necessities&rsquo; 30-percent to 40-percent-off sale alone with an extra 20 percent off with coupon code (BNSAVINGS). Offer expires on July 31.</li>
<li><strong>Bath and Body Works:</strong>&nbsp;Bath and Body Works is taking up to 75 percent off Semi-Annual Sale, both in-store and online. Customers can also take an additional 20 percent off online with the beach code BEACHES13. Offer ends on July 7.</li>
<li><strong>Children&rsquo;s Place:</strong>&nbsp;Children&rsquo;s Place is offering an extra 20 percent off site wide with code V8KFAY13. Sale ends on July 8.</li>
<li><strong>Foot Locker:</strong>&nbsp;Take $20 off $120 purchases with the code LKS1CP3N. Offer expires on July 31.</li>
<li><strong>Justice:</strong>&nbsp;Justice customers can save an extra 40 percent off their entire purchase with the coupon code 721. No coupon is necessary when making purchases in-store. Deals end on July 11.</li>
<li><strong>Kate Spade:</strong>&nbsp;Kate Spade is offering one of the best<strong>&nbsp;July 4th discounts</strong>&nbsp;with its 50-percent to 75-percent off deal on handbags. Online purchases can take advantage of free shipping.</li>
<li><strong>Nautica:</strong>&nbsp;Nautica is offering 40 percent off the purchase of four or more items when using the coupon code &ldquo;July 4&Prime; at checkout.</li>
<li><strong>Nine West:</strong>&nbsp;Nine West is offering buy one, get one 50 percent off site-wide for a limited time. Free shipping available on all orders, no minimum purchase required.</li>
<li><strong>Nordstrom:</strong>&nbsp;Nordstrom is offering up to 60 percent off handbags and jewelry. Free shipping is available all the time.</li>
<li><strong>PacSun:</strong>&nbsp;Customers can enjoy a buy one get one free sale and also use the coupon code FREE4YOU to enjoy free shipping on online purchases through July 4.</li>
<li><strong>RUUM Children&rsquo;s Wear:</strong>&nbsp;Take 20 percent off any order with the coupon code RUUM4SUMMER. Deal ends on July 11.</li>
<li><strong>ShopLately:</strong>&nbsp;ShopLately is offering discounts on numerous July 4th fashion accessories, along with an extra 20 percent off with the discount code FASTION20 when purchasing online. Discount can be coupled with free shipping code.</li>
<li><strong>Woman Within:</strong>&nbsp;Women Within is currently running a clearance of up to 80 percent off limited-quantity items. Customers can also receive free shipping on orders of $50 or more with the coupon code WW69057.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Food</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>7-Eleven:</strong>&nbsp;While not among the&nbsp;<strong>July 4th deals</strong>, the popular convenience store is offering a free small Slurpee on July 11 (7/11). No coupon necessary. Visit 7-Eleven Day Dance Party Facebook page for more information.</li>
<li><strong>Boston Market:</strong>&nbsp;Boston Market is offering a&nbsp;<a href="http://bostonmarket.com/home?promoCode=33011&amp;page=specialCoupons" target="_blank">coupon online</a>&nbsp;to take 50 percent off its Family Meal on July 4th only. Coupon applies to restaurant and online orders.</li>
<li><strong>Jamba Juice:</strong>&nbsp;Jamba Juice is offering buy one, get one free smoothies through July 7.</li>
<li><strong>Joe&rsquo;s Crab Shack:</strong>&nbsp;Customers who print&nbsp;<a href="http://macaronigrill.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=2147520987&amp;storecode=5&amp;_X=e4hwF6pKAJQa0" target="_blank">this coupon</a>&nbsp;can enjoy 10 percent off their entire purchase. Coupon expires on July 8.</li>
<li><strong>Kwik Trip:</strong>&nbsp;Join the Kwik Trip email club via Facebook and receive a coupon for a free 16-ounce coffee and doughnut. Offer does not have an expiration date.</li>
<li><strong>Macaroni Grill:</strong>&nbsp;Customers who print&nbsp;<a href="http://macaronigrill.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=2147520987&amp;storecode=5&amp;_X=e4hwF6pKAJQa0" target="_blank">this coupon</a>&nbsp;can enjoy 10 percent off their entire purchase. Coupon expires on July 8.</li>
<li><strong>Outback Steakhouse:</strong>&nbsp;Military members can take 10 percent off a meal with their IDs. Offer is available through July 4.</li>
<li><strong>Tai Pei Frozen Asian Food:</strong>&nbsp;Like Tai Pei Frozen Asian Food on Facebook and receive a coupon for a discount or free meal (you must break virtual fortune cookie to reveal your deal). Offer does not have an expiration date.</li>
<li><strong>Wing Stop:</strong>&nbsp;Wing Stop is offering free regular fresh-cut seasoned fries with any wing purchase. Customers must have&nbsp;<a href="http://wingstop.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=32212289723&amp;storecode=&amp;_X=91Tk1Gh-AKsa0" target="_blank">coupon</a>. Expires on July 4.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Furniture, Electronics and Appliances</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Best Buy:</strong>&nbsp;Take 10 percent to 30 percent off major appliances at Best Buy. Countertop microwaves and floor care are discounted by 10 percent to 20 percent.</li>
<li><strong>Dell:</strong>&nbsp;Dell is offer an extra $50 off select laptop purchases $599.99 and above when using the code 0H9Q3PQ6L3774C during checkout.</li>
<li><strong>Macy&rsquo;s:</strong>&nbsp;Customers can take advantage of Macy&rsquo;s July 4th Furniture Sale, which takes 55 percent to 60 percent off outdoor furniture and offers free delivery with a $999 outdoor furniture purchase within normal delivery areas.</li>
<li><strong>Sears:</strong>&nbsp;Sears is offering July 4th deals on appliances, along with an extra 10-percent off purchases of $499 or more with code: APPLIANCE10 (only on appliances sold by Sears).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Online Deals</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Amazon:</strong>&nbsp;Amazon is offering discounts on TVs, clothes, shoes and more on July 4th. Visit the website for more details.</li>
<li><strong>eBay:</strong>&nbsp;eBay is having a 4th of July Blowout Sale in every category.</li>
<li><strong>MacMall:</strong>&nbsp;Celebrate Independence Day with a 4th of July Sale offering up to $649 off. Deal expires on July 4.</li>
<li><strong>Newegg:</strong>&nbsp;Newegg is offering a massive July 4th sale that includes major discounts on computers and accessories, as well as free shipping on select items.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Travel on a Budget to Enjoy Your 4th of July Holiday</h3>
<p>If you want to make the most of Independence Day then you may want to visit other parts of the country. Good thing there are some great&nbsp;<strong>4th of July discounts</strong>&nbsp;to help you out!</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Cheapoair:</strong>&nbsp;Cheapoair is offering up to 65 percent off flights plus an extra $15 off with the promo code SUMMER15. Expires July 31.</li>
<li><strong>Hotels.com:</strong>&nbsp;Hotels.com is offering 30 percent off with its 4th of July Hotel Stay deal.</li>
<li><strong>Orbitz:</strong>&nbsp;Travelers can save 15 percent off travel with the code SPF#15 . Travel must be booked by July 7 and not include Blackout Dates.</li>
<li><strong>SeaWorld:</strong>&nbsp;Use the promo code SWCTACOBELL2013 to get a free 2nd visit to SeaWorld in San Diego. SeaWorld San Antonio is offering $12 off tickets with the code SAVE12.</li>
<li><strong>Travel Zoo:</strong>&nbsp;Travel Zoo is asking travelers to celebrate their&nbsp;<strong>Independence Day 2013</strong>&nbsp;by taking advantage of savings of to 65 percent on travel. The deal includes travel between June 29 and July 8.</li>
</ul>
<p>Whether you&rsquo;re looking for&nbsp;<strong>4th of July freebies</strong>&nbsp;or enjoying some great Independence Day discounts, there are plenty of ways to honor your country and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/staying-within-budget/">budget</a>&nbsp;this holiday. Enjoy!</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-where-to-find-the-best-4th-of-july-deals-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-most-american-americans-alive-today-2013-7The 50 Most American Americans Alivehttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-most-american-americans-alive-today-2013-7
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:48:00 -0400Megan Willett
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/51d456f06bb3f7d75b000003-480-/the-most-american-americans-final.jpg" border="0" alt="The most american americans final" width="480" /></p><p>When we think of the quintessential American, we think of people who are competitive, innovative, brave, resilient, and talented &mdash; and sometimes crude, selfish, and prone to scandal.</p>
<p>To celebrate Independence Day 2013, we ranked the 50 most American U.S. citizens alive today.</p>
<p><span>For better or worse, these people embody what it means to be American.</span></p>
<p>Julie Zeveloff, Gus Lubin, and Jennifer Polland contributed to this list.</p><h3>#50 Edward Snowden</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51b4ccf469bedd8715000000-400-300/50-edward-snowden.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>#49 Sheryl Sandberg</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d44471eab8ea3e1d000013-400-300/49-sheryl-sandberg.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>#48 Lance Armstrong</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d44462ecad044428000000-400-300/48-lance-armstrong.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-most-american-americans-alive-today-2013-7#47-gabby-giffords-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/new-castle-ale-invents-anti-4th-of-july-2013-7Newcastle Ale Is Trying To Invent A Pro-British, Anti-4th Of July Holidayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/new-castle-ale-invents-anti-4th-of-july-2013-7
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:18:00 -0400Laura Stampler
<p>Newcastle Ale is being very honest about its latest marketing endeavor.</p>
<p>"How can a British beer brand latch onto July 4th, of all occasions, as a potential sales opportunity?" the Brewer asked BI in an email.</p>
<p>Simple: Celebrate the last day of British rule with the newly minted holiday Independence Eve. The last day of British rule.</p>
<p class="p1">This tongue-in-cheek holiday is part of the brewer and Droga5's <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=no%20bollocks%20new%20castle&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CCwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brewbound.com%2Fnews%2Fnewcastle-brown-ale-takes-a-no-bollocks-approach-to-summer-sales&amp;ei=3TjUUZ_HKMaH0QGOlYBw&amp;usg=AFQjCNGSQGoXw1CVy0xR3cSE16d4HNk8Dg&amp;bvm=bv.48705608,d.dmQ">"No Bollocks!" campaign.</a></p>
<p>Newcastle's Facebook has been taken over by holiday messages: "This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/independenceeve" class="_58cn" data-onclick="[[&quot;HashtagLayerPageController&quot;,&quot;click&quot;]]" data-pub="{&quot;id&quot;:178927188929479}">&lrm;#IndependenceEve</a>, party like it&rsquo;s 1775. Minus the wooden teeth, powdered wigs, rampant disease and horrific violence."<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d439e269bedd485a000016-590-/screen%20shot%202013-07-03%20at%2010.48.25%20am.png" border="0" alt="new castle independence eve" width="590" /></p>
<p>Unfortunately not all the fans get it.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51d43a2fecad048114000001-364-95/screen%20shot%202013-07-03%20at%2010.49.30%20am.png" border="0" alt="new castle facebook " width="590" /></p>
<p>Silly Americans.</p>
<p>It has also inspired some Americans to rant about America and some Brits to rant about Britain.</p>
<p><strong></strong><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d43ab8ecad04171200000b-364-139/screen%20shot%202013-07-03%20at%2010.51.25%20am.png" border="0" alt="new castle ale facebook" width="590" /></p><p><strong>WANT MORE GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA?&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-30-most-creative-social-media-marketers-ranked-2013-7" >These are the 30 most creative people marketing on Facebook and Twitter right now</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-castle-ale-invents-anti-4th-of-july-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-hotels-for-july-4th-2013-79 Great Hotels Where You Can Celebrate The 4th Of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-hotels-for-july-4th-2013-7
Tue, 02 Jul 2013 18:21:00 -0400Oyster.com
<p><span><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d30e116bb3f7c357000006-480-/rooftop-pool-of-south-beach-hotel.jpg" border="0" alt="Rooftop Pool of South Beach Hotel" width="480" style="float: right;" />Planning a patriotic getaway this 4th of July weekend?</span></p>
<p><span>These hotels are super convenient to the holiday action &mdash; whether you&rsquo;re planning a trip to Lady Liberty or planning to catch one of the country&rsquo;s many spectacular fireworks shows.</span></p><h3>Ink 48, New York City</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d30e5269bedd5629000009-400-300/ink-48-new-york-city.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>Ink 48 (named for its location on 48th Street in New York City) is close to the river and has a beautiful rooftop offering partial views of the 4th of July fireworks (shown from 24th to 40th streets).</span></p>
<p><span>Tickets to its private 4th of July reception are $200 plus fees, but that includes an open bar, hors d&rsquo;oeuvres, and live DJ music. Its free wine receptions, swanky spa, and pet-friendly features make it a great place to stay as well.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>The Hotel of South Beach, Miami</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51d30e116bb3f7c357000006-400-300/the-hotel-of-south-beach-miami.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>Centrally located in a historic Art Deco building, this is a darling little hotel by designer Todd Oldham and developer/hotelier Tony Goldman.</span></p>
<p><span>Staying here and planning on celebrating the 4th of July? Bring beach chairs and towels to the fun (and free) 4th of July event beginning at 7:00 pm on 8th Street and Ocean Drive (fireworks start at 9 p.m.).</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Andaz Wall Street, New York City</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/51d30ee7ecad04ee4c000003-400-300/andaz-wall-street-new-york-city.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>Hoping to visit Lady Liberty on your Independence Day visit to NYC? The Statue of Liberty is reopening to the public on July 4th 0f 2013 after flooding from Hurricane Sandy.</span></p>
<p><span>Andaz Wall Street is located conveniently near Battery Park, where the ferries for the statue depart, and boasts striking design by The Rockwell Group and big, handsome rooms with stylish bathrooms.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-hotels-for-july-4th-2013-7#intercontinental-miami-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-way-to-get-to-the-hamptons-from-nyc-2013-7Uber Is Offering A $3,000 Helicopter Ride To The Hamptons On July 4, And Actually It's A Great Dealhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-way-to-get-to-the-hamptons-from-nyc-2013-7
Tue, 02 Jul 2013 17:30:50 -0400Alex Davies
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51d343566bb3f7553f000003-480-/memorial-day-traffic-helicopter.jpg" border="0" alt="memorial day traffic helicopter" width="480" /></p><p>To help New Yorkers going to the Hamptons this 4th of July avoid hellish traffic, popular on-demand car service <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-helicopter-rides-from-nyc-2013-7" target="_blank">Uber is offering an unusual deal</a>: For $3,000, you and four friends can fly out in a helicopter, complete with a driver to take you to and from each helipad.</p>
<p>It's a terrific deal.</p>
<p>There are cheaper ways to get out to the beach, of course. Taking the <a href="http://www.hamptonjitney.com/cgi-bin/nav.cgi?page=home.html" target="_blank">Jitney bus</a> or the <a href="http://www.mta.info/lirr/hamptons/" target="_blank">Long Island Rail Road</a> to East Hampton costs just $27.</p>
<p>But if you want to cut a multi-hour trip down to about 40 minutes and take in some amazing sights along the way, above the traffic is the way to go. And it's hard to find a flight for less than $3,000.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.newyorkhelicopter.com/" target="_blank">New York Helicopter</a> offers charters for six passengers to East Hampton for $3,350. The same trip with <a href="http://www.heliny.com/contactus.cfm" target="_blank">HeliNY</a>, for five passengers, costs $3,680. You can take a round trip for just $4,115, but you'll pay $300 for every hour in between the two flights.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.heliflite.com/" target="_blank">HeliFlite</a> does not publish its rates, but CEO Kurt Carlson said a trip for five people from the city to East Hampton in one of the company's executive class whirlybirds would likely cost a "little bit more" than $3,000.</p>
<p>The closest we could find to a better deal than Uber's comes from <a href="http://awesomeflight.com/company/company-mission/" target="_blank">Awesome Flight</a>. The one-way ride costs just $1,597, but the chopper fits only three passengers. So your group of five would need two charters, bringing the price to $3,194.</p>
<p><strong>The Only Alternative</strong></p>
<p>There is one way to fly to the Hamptons for less than $3,000: Go by seaplane. We've already <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaplane-to-the-hamptons-pictures-2013-6" target="_blank">determined it's the best way to make the trip</a>, and if you <a href="http://www.soundaircraft.com/seaplane.php" target="_blank">buy individual tickets with Sound Aircraft</a>, instead of chartering an entire whole plane, your group of five can get to the beach in 45 minutes for just $525 each.</p>
<p>That's a total of $2,625, leaving you with more than enough money to hire a car to get to and from each marina in style. And unlike the Uber deal, which is valid July 3 only, you can hop aboard all summer.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaplane-to-the-hamptons-pictures-2013-6" >There Is No Better Way To Get To The Hamptons Than In A Seaplane</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-way-to-get-to-the-hamptons-from-nyc-2013-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-these-minor-league-teams-went-all-out-with-their-4th-of-july-uniforms-2012-7Minor League Baseball Teams Celebrated The Fourth Of July With Some Of The Ugliest Jerseys We've Seenhttp://www.businessinsider.com/photos-these-minor-league-teams-went-all-out-with-their-4th-of-july-uniforms-2012-7
Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:20:00 -0400Cork Gaines
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5e855eab8ea3c08000006/rochester-red-wings.jpg" border="0" alt="Rochester Red Wings" /></p><p>For Minor League Baseball teams it is always a struggle to sell tickets, which leads to some of the more unusual giveaways and promotions.</p>
<p>Among the more popular promotions are the use of alternate jerseys for special occasions like the Fourth of July. And the more patriotic, more unique, wackier, and louder, the better.</p>
<p>On the next few pages, we'll take a look at some of the uniforms that were worn at minor league ballparks yesterday.</p><h3>The Visalia Rawhide went with U.S. flag jerseys</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5e3f769bedd7e68000001-400-300/the-visalia-rawhide-went-with-us-flag-jerseys.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Hard not to see the irony of the Spokane Indians wearing what is also basically an American flag</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5e3f66bb3f7a21c000002-400-300/hard-not-to-see-the-irony-of-the-spokane-indians-wearing-what-is-also-basically-an-american-flag.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>The stars across the top of this Arkansas Travelers jersey looks like pajamas</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5e3f9eab8ea3a02000002-400-300/the-stars-across-the-top-of-this-arkansas-travelers-jersey-looks-like-pajamas.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-these-minor-league-teams-went-all-out-with-their-4th-of-july-uniforms-2012-7#at-least-this-stars-and-stripes-pattern-looks-like-a-baseball-jersey-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-romney-fourth-of-july-photos-2012-7Check Out These Awesome Photos Of Obama And Romney Celebrating The Fourth Of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/obama-romney-fourth-of-july-photos-2012-7
Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:48:00 -0400Elena Schneider
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5bbd46bb3f7cc4d00000c/obama-july-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Obama July 4" /></p><p>Like many Americans, President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/mitt-romney" class="hidden_link">Mitt Romney</a> rang in the Fourth of July with parades, picnics and fireworks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But that doesn't mean the election was far from their minds.</p>
<p>Romney, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/romney-family-vacation-photos-2012-7">who is vacationing with his family in Wolfeboro, N.H.</a>, walked with a crowd of supporters with the banner, "New Hampshire Stands With Mitt." He also delivered a speech from the back of a pickup truck to voters.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Obama also hugged and high-fived supporters. After presiding over a naturalization ceremony for active service members &mdash; and renewing his election year call for immigration reform &mdash; he and the First Lady hosted their third annual Independence Day picnic for service members and their families on the South Lawn.&nbsp;</p><h3>Obama presides over a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members. He shakes hands with newly naturalized citizens in the East Room of the White House. </h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5dad66bb3f7040b000000-400-300/obama-presides-over-a-naturalization-ceremony-for-active-duty-service-members-he-shakes-hands-with-newly-naturalized-citizens-in-the-east-room-of-the-white-house.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>Obama high-fives a young visitor to the Fourth of July picnic on the South Lawn of the White House.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5db0ceab8eafe67000010-400-300/obama-high-fives-a-young-visitor-to-the-fourth-of-july-picnic-on-the-south-lawn-of-the-white-house.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>The President dons a red, white and blue cowboy hat, borrowed from a guest at the picnic.</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ff5e133eab8ea3779000012-400-300/the-president-dons-a-red-white-and-blue-cowboy-hat-borrowed-from-a-guest-at-the-picnic.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-romney-fourth-of-july-photos-2012-7#the-first-lady-is-thrilled-for-the-fourth-of-july-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/3-children-dead-as-yacht-capsizes-off-long-island-during-fireworks-2012-73 Children Dead As Yacht Capsizes Off Long Island During Fireworks http://www.businessinsider.com/3-children-dead-as-yacht-capsizes-off-long-island-during-fireworks-2012-7
Thu, 05 Jul 2012 07:40:00 -0400Michael B Kelley
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff57cc9eab8eabf0d000022/oyster.jpg" border="0" alt="oyster" /></p><p>Three children died and 24 people were <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/yacht-capsizes-off-long-island-children-dead/story?id=16714526">rescued from Long Island Sound when a 36-foot Silverton yacht capsized</a> while passengers were watching Fourth of July fireworks, reports&nbsp;<a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/abc">ABC</a> News.</p>
<p class="p1">Coast Guard rescue teams, local law enforcement and owners of private boats pulled 24 people from the water&nbsp;near Oyster Bay <span>off Long Island</span>&nbsp;at about 10:30 p.m.</p>
<p>Preliminary causes for the accident "could be a combination of the weather and a wake from another vessel,"<span>&nbsp;</span><span class="yshortcuts cs4-ndcor" id="lw_1341485948_0">Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack <a href="http://econmatters.visibli.com/share/mT4p8T">told <em>AP</em></a>.</span></p>
<p>Lack said that<span>&nbsp;the operation took a long time because "at night in an area like this, it is very dangerous." </span></p>
<p><span>He added that there were a lot of boats in the water because of the holiday</span>&nbsp;and that some of the passengers aboard the boat had life jackets while others did not.&nbsp;<span>Most poeple&nbsp;</span><span>on board were taken to a hospital and one is in critical condition.</span></p>
<p>Police are now investigating whether the vessel sank because of overcrowding.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/3-children-dead-as-yacht-capsizes-off-long-island-during-fireworks-2012-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-celebrating-4th-of-july-2012-7Here Are Some Of The Awesome Ways Presidents Celebrate The Fourth Of Julyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-celebrating-4th-of-july-2012-7
Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:38:00 -0400Elena Schneider
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4ff35848ecad048360000006/george-w-bush.jpg" border="0" alt="George W Bush" /></p><p>For most Americans, the Fourth of July means a cookout, apple pie, parades and fireworks. But for the leader of the country, the day isn't usually that simple.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>In fact, you may be surprised with how some of America's leaders have spent their Independence Day holidays while in office.</strong></p>
<p>From winning wars to celebrating birthdays with the troops, some presidents actually get to live out the cinematic Fourth of July fantasies of what it's like to be commander-in-chief. Others have enjoyed more peaceful festivities, like parades and White House fireworks. <strong>One president even spent Independence Day on his deathbed.</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Needless to say, it is usually an action-packed day for the President of the United States. Here are some of the most interesting ways presidents have celebrated the Fourth of July.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p><h3>George Washington stayed in bed. </h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff48eabecad04270a00001b-400-300/george-washington-stayed-in-bed.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>The country's first president didn't do much to celebrate the 13th birthday. Washington was reportedly ill on July 4, 1789, and spent the day in bed. But he&nbsp;did write a letter to the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, stating he had received their congratulations on that day, according to <em>The Writings of George Washington</em>.</p>
<p>In fairness to Washington, Fourth of July celebrations didn't really catch on until about 1820, and Independence Day wasn't declared a federal holiday until 1870.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>Thomas Jefferson, one of two Presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence, started the White House tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July with the first Independence Day reception in 1801. </h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd31ef7f8b9a3917fa0000-400-300/thomas-jefferson-one-of-two-presidents-to-sign-the-declaration-of-independence-started-the-white-house-tradition-of-celebrating-the-fourth-of-july-with-the-first-independence-day-reception-in-1801.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Jefferson was also one of three consecutive presidents to die on the Fourth of July. Both he and John Adams, another signer of the Declaration of Independence, died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the country's independence. James Monroe, the nation's fifth president, died on July 4, 1831.&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>William Henry Harrison never made it to the Fourth of July — he died on April 4, 1841 during the first year of his first term.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4ff33f36eab8ea944d000002-400-300/william-henry-harrison-never-made-it-to-the-fourth-of-july--he-died-on-april-4-1841-during-the-first-year-of-his-first-term.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-celebrating-4th-of-july-2012-7#the-fourth-of-july-may-have-killed-president-zachary-taylor-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a>